On Cyprus

The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit,(A) went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.(B) When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God(C) in the Jewish synagogues.(D) John(E) was with them as their helper.

They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer(F) and false prophet(G) named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul,(H) Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer(I) (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul(J) from the faith.(K) Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit,(L) looked straight at Elymas and said, 10 “You are a child of the devil(M) and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?(N) 11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you.(O) You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”(P)

Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the proconsul(Q) saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

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The Mission to Cyprus

Being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they came down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. Arriving in Salamis, they proclaimed God’s message in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their assistant.(A) When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came across a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.(B) He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear God’s message.(C) But Elymas the sorcerer (this is the meaning of his name) opposed(D) them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.(E)

Then Saul—also called Paul—filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at the sorcerer 10 and said, “You son of the Devil,(F) full of all deceit and all fraud, enemy of all righteousness! Won’t you ever stop perverting the straight paths(G) of the Lord? 11 Now, look! The Lord’s hand is against you.(H) You are going to be blind, and will not see the sun for a time.” Suddenly a mist and darkness fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

12 Then the proconsul, seeing what happened, believed and was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.(I)

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